The Hindu : Front Page : Rs.4,000 cr. spent for railway works in TN

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Rs.4,000 cr. spent for railway works in TN

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Ganesan.

INAUGURATION: P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister, flagging off train service between Karaikudi and Manamadurai at Sivaganga on Wednesday.

SIVAGANGA: The Indian Railways had spent Rs.4,000 crore towards various projects undertaken in Tamil Nadu during the last four years of United Progressive Alliance Government, said R. Velu, Minister of State for Railways.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly-converted broad gauge section between Karaikudi and Manamadurai here on Wednesday, he said at the end of five years in office, the State would have got schemes worth Rs.5,332 crore. Various works to the tune of Rs.1,332 crore were being undertaken.

Mr. Velu said Bihar and Tamil Nadu had got special attention, as both States were neglected for several years. All sections of broad gauge were either completed or on the verge of completion. There would not be any metre gauge section in the State in the next two years.

Mr. Velu said the Madurai-Bodinaickanur section, which was almost abandoned for various reasons, would be brought under the broad gauge network.

Due to aggressive marketing and sincere attempts, the Indian Railways had earned profit of Rs.67,000 crore during the last four years. Chances were bright that the profit might touch Rs.1 lakh crore at the end of five years of UPA Government, he added.

Inaugurating the converted broad gauge section and flagging off train services on the route, Mr. Chidambaram said that it was because of cordial relationship between the Governments both at the State and Centre innumerable and important infrastructural projects were being taken up in the State.

If the unity continued further, several more projects could be taken up.

Mr. Chidambaram said one more train for the benefit of passengers of Sivaganga, Karaikudi and others would be operated between Rameswaram and Chennai.

Railway Minister would make announcement soon after consulting officials. Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, S. Regupathy, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, K.R. Periakaruppan, and MPs, M.S.K. Bhavani Rajendran and E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, spoke.

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